‘Thank you for your care, Lady Somerton. I am forever in your debt.’
‘Well, well, who do we have here?’
Freddy and Fanny appeared, standing side by side at the door to the library, and the cheerful mood seemed to dissipate. Sebastian silently cursed the Lynchs. Their continued presence felt like a blight on the house, and it took a monumental effort to keep the ice from his voice as he effected the introductions.
Only a fool would have missed the fawning attention Freddy paid to Constance. Unused to the attentions of men of theworld, Connie coloured prettily at his overblown compliments. The gorge rose in Sebastian’s throat and he wondered how best to educate his sister in such matters.
‘I am sure,’ Fanny said, seizing Connie by the arm, ‘that we shall be the very best of friends. Now, has Cousin Sebastian told you of the ball that is to be held here?’
Sebastian’s teeth ground at the familiar use ofCousin Sebastian.
‘Oh yes, Lady Somerton told me about it.’ Connie looked at her brother. ‘Bas, I have nothing to wear!’
Sebastian looked up at the ceiling. ‘And so it begins...’ he said with no malice.
He had already briefed Mrs. Fletcher to organise a modiste and a tailor to attend on Connie and Matt the next day.
Connie pulled a face at him. ‘You know I wouldn’t ask for a new dress unless I really meant it.’
Fanny patted her arm. ‘If nothing can be arranged, we are much of a size and I am sure I will have something in my wardrobe that you will like. Come, let me show you to your room. It will be the yellow bedchamber, just near me. I can’t wait to show you the house.’
As Fanny began to lead Connie up the stairs with a proprietorial air, the chill of disappointment settled on Sebastian’s shoulders. He had been looking forward to showing Connie the house, anticipating her pleasure at the sight of her bedroom, which he had filled with yellow and white roses from the garden.
Isabel touched his arm and she looked up at him.
‘Let me,’ she whispered.
Walking to the bottom of the stairs, she called up at the two girls.
‘Fanny, the tour of the house can wait. Constance needs a little rest after her recent illness and the stress of the journey. Allow Lord Somerton to show his sister to her chamber. Can you and Mrs. Fletcher arrange for some tea in the blue parlour?’
Fanny, masking the fleeting moue of disappointment thatcurled her lips, relinquished her hold on Connie. She smiled at Sebastian and fluttered her eyelashes.
‘Of course, Lord Somerton.’
Sebastian put his arm around Connie’s shoulders and led her up the stairs, pointing out various sour-faced Somerton ancestors on the way.
‘Close your eyes,’ he said as he threw the door open.
‘I can smell roses,’ she said.
He had personally chosen the room for Connie, knowing she liked sunshine and light. The huge vase of the best of the summer roses stood on the chest, filling the room with their perfume.
She opened her eyes and, seeing the room, she squealed with delight, pressing her hands to her chest. At the sight of her incredulous face, love for his sister swelled Sebastian’s heart. He wanted to fold her in his arms and keep her safe from all the evil of the world. He could not rest easily knowing a murderer lurked in the shadows of Brantstone.
‘Oh, Bas ...’ she turned to him, tears glinting on her eyelashes. She ran at him, throwing her arms around him. ‘I have missed you so much.’
He held her to him. ‘And I you, Connie.’
She looked up at him. ‘We can be a proper family now.’
He nodded and dropped a brotherly kiss on her forehead. ‘We can. Now I have one small welcome present for you.’
He fished in his jacket and pulled out a long, flat box and handed it to her. She took the box, turning it over in her hands.
‘Open it,’ he urged.
She unclasped the lid, revealing a delicate string of pearls with a diamond clasp and matching pearl earrings. A simple bit of jewellery, but, for a girl who had only her mother’s wedding ring, it meant the world.
